I am always inspired and rejuvenated by design magazines. Architecture, interior design, industrial design, do-it-yourself, and many other categories challenge my thinking and open up new possibilities. I was re-reading a back issue of Azure and Nov/Dec 07 was as great as the first time I read through it.

I seldom have the luxury of buying high-end materials with which to build my projects. Often, I use an inductive design approach. By that I mean considering what you can build with what you have, rather than designing something and then going and finding the materials you need to complete it—hobo building, really.

Building a coffee table based on plans from a woodworking magazine is not inductive (though it might be just as rewarding). Looking at the assortment of materials in your basement, storage area, or local used store and then intuitively arriving at what you might do is much different. The objects and materials around you suggest certain possibilities. Costs are usually lower because you limit yourself to what is immediately available. This is true unless you use your spouses treasured possessions, children’s favourite toys, or pieces of art from your mother-in-law’s house.

My most recent project was a blend of need and inductive design. We needed a temporary table for Christmas guests so I set about hunting for a large flat something, legs, etc. A piece of strand board from the shipping crate that our piano came in was combined with some square spindles for a deck to form the main components. I added a spine to keep the top flat—that came from our old window casing that had been removed earlier in the fall. The finish consisted of using a paint and varnish combo of what was on the shelf downstairs. I’ll attach the legs this weekend. It appears that it will work just fine.

Looks like we are going to make some omelettes here at the Cardus kitchen this morning—a bit of fuel for the day. Later, it will be a field trip and then supper together. Should be a great Friday.